From March 16 to 20, 2026, led by Professor Ang Ser Keng, Academic Director of the MBA and EMBA programs at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University (SMU), a group of 20 MBA students from 10 countries visited Central University of Finance and Economics to launch a week-long transnational academic exchange themed “Digital Economy and Chinese Management Practices.”
Following the reciprocal visits between the two universities in 2025, this marked the second visit by SMU faculty and students to the School of Business at Central University of Finance and Economics, and both sides attached great importance to the event. The program established a platform for cross-cultural exchange through classroom seminars, corporate visits, and cultural exchanges. It focused on the cutting edge of the digital economy, fostering a global perspective and innovative thinking among international business students, and solidifying the foundation for deepening educational cooperation between the two universities.
I. Opening Ceremony and Welcome: Tracing the University’s History
On the morning of March 16, the welcome ceremony, themed “Lions Embracing Lofty Aspirations, Dragons and Horses Pioneering Innovation,” officially commenced. Professor Lin Song, Dean of the CUFE Business School and Director of the MBA Education Center, delivered the opening remarks, extending a warm welcome to the SMU faculty and students. Professor Lin noted that this transnational exchange represents not only the transmission and sharing of business knowledge but also a profound dialogue between Chinese and foreign universities regarding business wisdom and educational philosophies. The CUFE MBA program has always been committed to cultivating leaders with a global perspective and innovative capabilities, who possess strengths in finance and accounting and actively assume social responsibilities. We look forward to joining hands with SMU faculty and students to jointly explore management innovation paradigms in the era of the digital economy and promote mutual learning and exchange in international business education. The welcome ceremony was hosted by Professor Ji Yueting.
Following the welcome ceremony, the SMU delegation visited the CUFE Museum of History, where they gained a comprehensive overview of the development and legacy of China’s financial and economic education through the museum’s exhibits. CUFE’s educational philosophy of “serving the world and benefiting the people” aligns deeply with SMU’s educational mission of “innovation, practice, and global perspective,” laying a solid intellectual foundation for the subsequent series of academic seminars and practical exchanges. Shi Ceming and Gao Qian, students from the Class of 2025 Full-Time MBA program, served as English-language guides for the tour of the museum.
II. Academic Empowerment: New Perspectives on Digitalization
Professor Lin Song opened the session with a lecture titled《Digital Entrepreneurship》,beginning with an explanation of the definition, core dimensions, and distinctions between digital entrepreneurship and traditional entrepreneurship, before tracing the evolutionary path from internet-based entrepreneurship to digital entrepreneurship. Using Pinduoduo as a representative case study, the course provided a detailed breakdown of the key elements of digital entrepreneurship business models. In his lecture on《AI-Driven Business Intelligence》, Professor Dai Hongyan compared the core differences between AI-driven management and traditional management. Drawing on case studies such as Caterpillar, he introduced the applications of generative AI and AI agents, illustrating how AI drives innovation in management paradigms and business models to facilitate corporate transformation and upgrading.
In《Strategic Leadership and Strategic Thinking》, Associate Professor Liu Shubo explained the essence of strategic leadership and the core competencies of senior executives. Using Kodak’s bankruptcy as an example, he analyzed the problems arising from a lack of strategic thinking and offered recommendations for developing strategic thinking based on insights from both Chinese and international contexts. In the course《Digital Human Resource Management》, Professor Ji Yueting elucidated the essence of digital human resource management, its data-driven pillars, and its impact on organizational performance. Drawing on case studies such as Amazon, she analyzed the application of AI in human resources, explored controversies surrounding algorithmic governance, and emphasized the need to balance management precision with human warmth. In Professor Yao Xiao’s course 《China’s Digital Economy》, he began with business models such as food delivery to analyze the scale of the digital economy, as well as the development models of e-commerce, live-streaming e-commerce, and cross-border e-commerce. Drawing on phenomena such as “consumption downgrading” and the rise of ready-to-cook meals, she discussed digital infrastructure, “Made in China 2025,” and the new energy vehicle industry, while also highlighting development challenges such as employment and an aging population. Additionally, Professor Ling Ruobing attended the closing ceremony, provided feedback and guidance on the presentations by the three groups, and engaged in in-depth interaction with the students.
III. Science and Technology Innovation Visit: A Fusion of Culture and Innovation
1. Visit to the Zhongguancun Science City (Haidian District) Planning Exhibition Hall
The Zhongguancun Science City (Haidian District) Planning Exhibition Hall features three main sections: “Exploring Haidian,” “New Urban Model,” and “Envisioning the Future.” It systematically presents the historical evolution of Haidian District, its territorial spatial planning layout, and the blueprint for the construction of Zhongguancun Science City, with a focus on showcasing technological innovation achievements in fields such as artificial intelligence and biomedicine. The faculty and student delegation immersed themselves in cutting-edge achievements within the exhibition hall, deeply internalizing the venue’s philosophy of “Life continues, innovation never stops,” and further broadening their understanding of China’s digital innovation and urban development.
2. Visit to the Zizai Zen Tea Experience Center
The delegation visited the “Zizai Zen Tea Experience Center” at Fragrant Hills. Professor Sun Shaohui delivered a lecture titled “The Fragrance of Oriental Tea Spreads Across the World: The Contemporary Value of Traditional Chinese Tea Culture.” He also led the students in a professional tea tasting session, allowing them to experience firsthand the distinct flavors and charms of green tea, black tea, and rock tea. By observing the color, inhaling the aroma, and sipping slowly with eyes closed, everyone not only felt the profound heritage of Chinese tea culture but also further appreciated the unique beauty of Oriental tea through this immersive experience.
Visiting iFlytek
SMU faculty and students experienced the charm of AI innovation at the iFlytek Artificial Intelligence Experience Center, where they interacted with the IFlytek Star, tested real-time multilingual translation, engaged with virtual avatars, and explored diverse application scenarios such as AI+education and AI+office solutions. This visit provided a firsthand look at the cutting-edge breakthroughs and practical implementations of Chinese AI technology, deepening their understanding of how AI empowers industrial development and drives the digital economy—a highly fruitful experience.
Exchange Concludes, New Chapters Begin
The five-day exchange program concluded successfully. SMU faculty and students unlocked new insights into the digital economy and management in the classroom, witnessed China’s innovation and industrial vitality during corporate visits, and appreciated the charm of Eastern traditions through cultural experiences. This event established a solid platform for cross-cultural business exchange, broadening international students’ global perspectives and fostering innovative thinking. Moving forward, the two universities will continue to deepen their collaboration, carry lofty aspirations with the spirit of the lion and the dragon-horse’s pioneering spirit, to jointly cultivate more business elites equipped with both a global mindset and practical skills, and to jointly promote the high-quality development of international business education.
